Small and medium sized manufacturing companies in Brazil:is innovativeness a key competitive capability to develop?

Thurer, Matthias and Filho, Moacir and Stevenson, Mark and Fredendall, Lawrence (2015) Small and medium sized manufacturing companies in Brazil:is innovativeness a key competitive capability to develop? Acta Scientiarum. Technology, 37 (3). pp. 379-387. ISSN 1806-2563

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Abstract

Small and medium sized manufacturing companies are important both to economic growth and to supply chains. Yet only limited research has focused on this type of organization – this includes in the area of manufacturing strategy. Using a large scale survey of 149 firms across three States in Brazil, this paper examines the competitive capabilities of small and medium sized manufacturing companies; and the link between their capabilities and performance. Our results show that the best-performing firms are those that lead on capabilities like quality and innovativeness rather than on cost. Much of the available literature on manufacturing strategy emphasizes only four key competitive priorities: cost, flexibility, quality and delivery. Consequently, our results confirm innovativeness as an important, fifth capability for small and medium sized firms in Brazil to maintain or develop. The findings are of relevance both to small and medium sized manufacturing companies in emerging economies and to international firms looking to relocate or outsource to Brazil.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Acta Scientiarum. Technology
Additional Information:
Date of Acceptance approx. 01/05/15. Acceptance letter in Portuguese attached.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3100
Subjects:
?? SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED MANUFACTURING COMPANIESBRAZILINNOVATIVENESSCOMPETITIVE CAPABILITIESSURVEYENGINEERING(ALL)COMPUTER SCIENCE(ALL)MATHEMATICS(ALL)EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCES(ALL)CHEMISTRY(ALL)PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY(ALL) ??
ID Code:
73786
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
04 Aug 2015 14:16
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
18 Oct 2023 00:56